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Douglas County Board unanimously opposes LB 541, citing voter access and cost concerns
Summary
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to adopt a formal opposition to Nebraska Legislative Bill LB 541 after Election Commissioner Brian Cruz warned the measure would roll back online registration, shorten early voting, and raise post-election audit requirements, imposing likely unfunded costs on counties.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 Tuesday to oppose Nebraska Legislative Bill LB 541 after a presentation from Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian Cruz outlining changes the bill would require and the costs the county could face.
Cruz told the board LB 541 would “take a lot of rights away from voters,” eliminate online voter registration in some provisions, reduce the early-voting period from 35 days to 22 days, and increase the state-mandated post-election manual audit from 10% to 25%, all of which he said would be expensive and operationally disruptive.
"We have a system that works. It works well," Cruz said, urging the board to oppose the bill and noting the county already had to hire significant temporary staff for the last election. He said Douglas County had to hire 22 additional employees for last fall’s election and estimated the fiscal impact of rolling back early voting and increasing labor-intensive post‑election work could run into “hundreds of thousands of dollars per election, if not into the millions in a presidential election.”
The board’s vote followed questions and remarks from multiple commissioners about the frequency of voter fraud and the likely fiscal impact. Commissioner Kavanaugh said in his experience across many recounts voter fraud has been “extremely, extremely rare” and supported Cruz’s request. Commissioner Friend and others pressed for clarity on fiscal notes and whether the state would reimburse any new costs.
Public comment included objections to parts of the bill from a member of the public, Larry Storer of Omaha, who called for more time and additional presentations on election claims; the board did not act on that procedural request and proceeded to vote on the opposition motion.
Motion and vote: Commissioner Borgeson moved to adopt the opposition, Commissioner Kavanaugh seconded; the motion passed 7 to 0.
Why it matters: County election officials told the board that about half of Douglas County voters now use vote-by-mail and that the current options — online registration, early voting, and secure drop boxes — are widely used and, in their view, secure. Commissioners framed the vote as support for preserving voter access and avoiding unfunded state mandates that would shift costs to counties.
What the board directed: The board adopted the opposition and recorded that county election staff and allied county associations would testify against LB 541 at the legislative hearing scheduled in early March. Cruz said clerks and election commissioners across the state and the National Association of Counties (NACo) were already preparing testimony opposing the bill.
Votes at a glance: Motion to oppose LB 541 — mover: Commissioner Borgeson; second: Commissioner Kavanaugh; outcome: approved 7-0.
Sources and next steps: A hearing for LB 541 was scheduled in the Legislature; county election officials said they will participate in testimony and supply fiscal and operational details to legislators.
